As promised, here's the sixth chapter, hope you'll enjoy it. Please don't forget to comment and share :D I'm open to any kind of advice and critics so enjoy yourself. Kiss Kiss ~
“Come in,” Cole answered the knocks at the door, his eyes glued on the screen of his laptop while his fingers swiftly ran over the luminescent buttons of its keyboard.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG4nZgF7Ff
He heard the unframed frosted glass double-doors swung open and footstep filled the quiet room, their sound stopped dead near him as a shadow blocked off the light to his desk.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iw2iXydFg
“Henry Temples is here sir,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbkM51s9zL
Cole furrowed his brows at the mention of his friend’s name and stopped typing away. The two men were not supposed to meet up before Friday since their little chat about the housekeeper, so useless to say that the accomplished businessman was surprised by his friend’s unplanned visit. Cole resettled the reading spectacles on his nose and eventually looking up at his newly hired personal assistant - a dynamic and skilful twenty-three year-old young man of an epicene beauty - he said, “Let him in,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG9ApoRcUU
The young man nodded and left. Cole put his laptop on hold and removed his eyeglasses putting them down on his desk. He rubbed his eyes as he slumped into his seat releasing a heavy sigh when his back touched the backrest, then the door opened again and a clean-shaved man with thick dark brown brows and matte ebony eyes showed up. Cole got up and both men walked to each other, grins brightening their faces as they shook hands in a way proper to them.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlaygJXtFB
“What are you doing here, man? We weren’t supposed to meet each other till Friday,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQS264Cf75
“Yeah, I know,” Henry said sitting down on one of the chair in front of the desk, “but I’ve got few things to talk to you about and I couldn’t say them simply on the phone. Are you free on Saturday night?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovqbgECJmZ
“Why?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsdeIg1i3Z
“I want to introduce you to someone special,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nHgqdJs9M
Cole wiggled his eyebrows childishly “A girl?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiefNjtKbKw
“Yeah,” Henry looked away, the blush all over his face.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPknVCricFI
“It must be pretty serious for you to come here and ask me to see her,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzPDn2fxXH
“Serious, indeed. So are you available?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIeXjwNzvw
“Yep. Where shall we meet?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiLm6vdZPr
“Manolo,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgRiHXHwH9
Cole lifted his brows at the naming of the fancy Italian restaurant.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehrRx8EQ9F
“Sounds like someone is determined to impress,"818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSFNGgOdF7
“She’s marvellous. She needs to be in place that suits her greatness,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7bnoephOny
Cole smiled. Henry was a man full of contradictions and once again, he proved it to Cole. Henry was a man with sturdy and dominating physique that often scared people away, but his looks was far to go with his personality. In fact, the man was a shy and thoughtful romanticist who didn’t believe in one-night stands but in true love, a belief that Cole already gave up on years ago. Henry always took the time to know more about the woman he was dating, unluckily the poor man who cherished the concept of chastity before marriage regularly fell on shallow nymphomaniacs or vile greedy women. However it seemed like for once the woman he had bumped into was not as crazy as the others. Now that he thought about it, Cole realised that Bexley had few things in common with his friend. They were both reserved, intelligent and foremost, they shared the same point of view regarding the sacredness of marriage. Maybe those two could get along with each other.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gqe76z8D0
“You like her a lot, don’t you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MGBibreBN
“Yeah, we can say that,” Henry laughed timidly, “Now that this matter is settled, I’m going to tell you the second reason why I came here. I’ve got bad news for you,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTB4O704AJ
“What kind of bad news?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS0gk7RLwQ
“I didn’t find anything dirty about your girl except few fights in high-school but there's nothing to be excited about. However, I’ve put my finger on something that might interest you, but it regards her so-called sister,” Henry finished his sentence emphasising on the three last words then brought a large brown envelope out from his computer briefcase and passed it to his older friend.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcTtkhLLa9
Cole opened the envelope and as soon as his eyes read the first lines of the report before him, his grey eyes lightened up with guile and a smirk made its way on his face.
***
“You’re stunning in this dress,” Alyssa complimented her little sister as she helped her to put her favourite golden chain necklace on.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLqZOSpIv
“Thank you, but don’t you think it’s a bit too much? I don’t want Ezra to think that I’m trying to entice him,” Bexley told her peered at her reflection on the full-length looking-glass.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHIu6raFZp
“Isn’t it the point of this date?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CtonZ3gnS
“It’s not a date, Ally. We’re just...going out as old high-school friends who want to have fun together,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tH7QCe7TD
“Yeah, have fun,” Alyssa said pushing her arm playfully.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIwDkN9d0K
“Hey, get your dirty mind away from me,” Bexley laughed discerning the innuendo behind the comment.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlejgfmFw8
“Anyway, where are you guys going?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ebrKImhyB
“I don’t know, he keeps it from me saying that he wants to surprise me,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTUvRye2Qz
“Yeah, that’s definitely a date,” Alyssa nodded to herself.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYM3nztLjZh
“No, it’s not,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMEhsNVSlx
“I’m sure he’s in love with you,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVd0rs5Fep
“Can’t be,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID9uSf7pV0
“How can you be so sure?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwmLJTBINI
“Because. He never asked me out or show me any kind of special treatment to make me think otherwise,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoV7hUoEM3i
“That doesn’t mean anything. I saw the way he looked at you, Becks. Trust me, Ezra is not seeing you as a mere friend,"818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFt2khdOmjc
Then the bell rang cutting short their random conversation.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpjZ8OdYgE
“Guess it’s your prince charming,” Alyssa shouted rushing to the front door.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAT0Hq6rEi
“Ally!” Bexley said angrily leaving her bedroom for the door as well.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIwf0N7v44
“Hey, Ezra,” Alyssa greeted the smiling man who was standing in front of her with a splendid blue orchids bouquet in the hands.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnVSede9UW
“Hi, Alyssa. How you’re doing?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLN4PSV5el
“Good, good,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJRwBfxmom
“Hi, Becks,” he grinned to the young woman staying in the back.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztG6lH8f0r
“I got to go check my pie in the oven,” Alyssa professed then walked away.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKqO2ivEFo
“You look...breathtaking,” he blurted out, his eyes roving her body.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodbKJtsQTZ
“Thanks,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4OoKEFpUR
“I remembered you love orchids,” he handed her the bouquet, “Blue are favourite, right?” 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZaqgnnB7q
“Yes. Thank you, Ezra, they’re beautiful,” Bexley smiled looking down at the flowers burying her nose in them to sniff their dainty scent.
***
“Cole, let me introduce you to my girlfriend, Leighton Sullivan. Darling, this is my oldest friend, Cole Ramsden,” Henry presented them formally to each other.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LXvB9HuHU
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ramsden,” the blonde-haired woman said with a smile, her arm wrapped around Henry’s, “I heard some much about you,” 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmiaRVo9VK
“Likewise, and please call me Cole,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj5btTBKpu
“Then call me Leighton,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYq3hA01l3
“All right, now that the presentation are made, let’s order something to eat. I’m starving,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzfh6lRZ76
“Good idea, I’m starving too,” 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50O7vXA8cb
They all sat down, browsed through their menu for five minutes or so and making their final choices, a waiter came to them. The orders taken, the three people exchanged small talk, jokes and few laughs in the charming ambience of the restaurant. Briskly the establishment doors slid open and a balmy wind that carried the familiar scent of ylang-ylang blew to him, Cole turned his head furtively toward the entrance and he saw her ; Bexley. Cole blinked in disbelief. He eyed her up and down, barely able to recognise the young woman. She had nothing to do with the nun-like housekeeper he was with few hours ago. She was actually the reverse. Her hair was down in big loose curls that fell up to the crook of her back and she had put some make-up on her ethereal face. She was dressed with a white laced crochet dress that uncovered her shoulders, underlined her thin waist and moulded her wide hips with elegance and fluidity. The dress stopped to her thighs showing her outstanding long, fine and firm legs to the greatest pleasure of his eyes. On the top of her low-heeled summer sandals, Bexley walked in closely followed by a bespectacled man. They stopped at the reception and afterwards, a waitress lead them toward their table. Cole couldn't take his eyes off of her as she stepped slowly to him, her hips swaying at her steps. She looked on her left and that was when their look met. Her eyes opened wide with awe for a second then she looked away ignoring him. Flabbergasted and somehow vexed by her bold ignorance, Cole refused to let her go so easily. A lopsided smile made its way on his face and he exclaimed as they passed by, "Oh! Ms. Hamilton, what a surprise!"818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxJ8CPsAD3
He noticed her shutting her eyes cursorily and mumbling something. The bespectacled man - who was now in front of her - halted and whirled around to face her, "Do you know him?"818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTxyr1Dv9i
"Yeah, it's my boss," she responsed "Mr. Ramsden, good evening," she made her usual bow and Cole couldn’t help but ogle her again.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTK1yLJxMyh
"I didn't know you loved those kind of places. And who is this gentleman with you?"818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPtaLhoH97
"Ah, it's-" 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9vVhto6pU
"Ezra Simmons, her boyfriend" he introduced himself.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQnSXYHZaD
Cole leaned back as if the young man had slapped him across the face. He peeked at Bexley and the young woman looked as much stupefied as he was.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0M2nccBxLt
“Oh. Now I understand why you asked me to finish work a bit earlier,” Cole addressed her curtly, “Well, I won’t bother you two any longer, enjoy your meal. Nice meeting you, Mr. Simmons,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUMp3BA4Mz
Ezra nodded and took Bexley by the hand and they both left to a table not far from them. Actually, the young couple’s table was right next to theirs and to Cole's happiness, Bexley sat on the chair diagonally opposed to his, giving him a full sight on her, something the young woman realised only after she sat down and met his gaze again.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoAMqd0NFM
“Who is that bloody boy?” Cole whispered to his friend’s ear, the annoyance clearly audible in his voice.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5dVAi6VSU
“Her high-school friend, but I didn't know they were dating, my source didn't inform me about that,” Henry replied in the same tone “Look, I think it's time for you to react before it's too late,"
***
“Sorry about earlier. I shouldn’t have told him I was your boyfriend, but the way he looked at you pissed me off,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7KOimrCUu
“It’s okay, don't worry” she smiled at his protectiveness, "Come on, let’s order. I’m hungry,” she changed the topic baulking at having her employer as the subject of their conversation.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nSzozjR7D
They summoned a waiter who quickly typed their orders on the mini-tablet and left. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXSSqObmkz
“This place is very nice,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcujBoIW6h
“Glad you like it,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfgPx0ItTu
“But hey, why do you bring me here? I mean it’s quite expensive and you know, we usually go to fast food. Are you hiding something from me?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrU6vnTpOG
“No, I just wanted a change. I wanted us to spend some time together in a background different from fast food and attraction parks,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3nx1f987I
“Well, thank you for this initiative, Mr. Simmons,” she thanked him.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcswtsAJ8s
“You're welcome, milady," 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7DYI9iDyE
They stayed silent for a moment but Ezra quickly broke the awkward quietness between them.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr6cpP5rS9
"I never told you that before but I feel like the urge to tell you right now so, you're beautiful, Bexley" he blurted out, "I mean, not that you look ugly on other days but today you’re just...ravishing,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMJx9gO9XC
Bexley looked down at her napkin to hide her reddened cheeks.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJK0uXNNZM5
“You shouldn’t say things like that,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgrbvtS7qT
“Why?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJtaoAmUge
“You don’t know it but your words have a strange effect on me and I’m scared that with those ones I might imagine things that I shouldn’t,” she confessed with a scrupulous honesty.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMHQ79tNhR
“Have you ever thought that maybe I want you to imagine those things?” he retorted gently. Bexley looked up at him unsure of the meaning behind those words, but her doubts vanished immediately when the young man reached out for her hand and intertwined her fingers with his. Bexley shivered at the coldness of his firm yet soft hands. Then, she felt an intense piercing gaze on her. From the corner of the eye, she glimpsed on her side and caught him staring at her. She had been longing for this moment with Ezra for ten years and now that it had finally come, she was incapable to enjoy it fully with Cole’s constant piercing eyes that seemed to accuse for something she didn't do.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMAzdqr61i
“Is everything okay, Becks?” Ezra suddenly inquired worriedly.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhOpVOayxi
“Yeah, I just don’t like this spot,” she lied. All she wished for at this instant was to get away from Cole. She knew the man too well. He looked calm and collected on the outside but from where she seated, she could sense his ferocious indignation toward her and she was sure that this powerful feeling was related to her rejection to his proposal.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSi8FqtTDl
“Why didn’t you tell me, I would’ve ask for a change,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTjCNKkSAc
“No need. I’m too lazy to move already,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfNeA0H0ft
“Are you sure?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuuvsFJbWz
“Yeah,” she assured him but deep down, she was fretting. Cole Ramsden was known to be the type of man who never gave up on his objective whatever and whoever it was and from some reason, Bexley had the feeling that tonight, the man would try to get what he wanted from her at any cost.
